Initially deprived of places to carry out the most basic of training, Olympic hopefuls have had a tough time navigating the year, fretting over how best to maintain their fitness levels in a world of new norms.
The extensive impact of the novel coronavirus was not at its least when it came to the daily diet of athletes, who had been pushing themselves to their physical limits before recovering and building up with the help of proper nutrition.
"There was a rise in body-fat percentage and weight for some athletes after finding themselves unable to train, having been asked to stay at home under the state of emergency," Ajinomoto Co. researcher and managerial dietician Haruka Suzuki said.